NGEZI Platinum Stars coach Tonderai Ndiraya believes their big win over title rivals Dynamos at Boabab Stadium last week was the beginning of a journey that could lead the Mhondoro-based side to their maiden league championship ahead of a tricky tie away to relegated Bantu Rovers at Luveve this afternoon.
BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
Ndiraya’s charges made a huge statement about their title credentials at this crucial stage of the competition with a deserved 2-0 win over Dynamos last weekend.
“I believe the match against Dynamos was the beginning of the journey. We have the title in our hands. There are four difficult matches left and in those four matches, we have two teams which are also fighting for the title and it’s not going to be easy for us,” Ndiraya said.
“I was happy that we managed to keep a clean sheet against Dynamos and if we can keep doing that in the matches to come, then the destiny of the league is in our hands. But Bantu is a different ball game altogether; they have nothing to lose and we have to be at our best to take all the points.”
What Ngezi need is four wins in all their remaining matches to be crowned champions.
Dynamos — who until early September were threatening to run away with the league title — have gone on a lean spell and occupied third place, two points behind the leaders going into the weekend matches.
Losing a top of the table clash against Ngezi further compounded DeMbare woes and prompted many to rule them out of the title race.
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That two of their influential players Denver Mukamba and Lincoln Zvasiya have been booted out of the team over disciplinary issues does not help the Glamour Boys’ cause.
And this afternoon, DeMbare entertain Chapungu at the National Sports Stadium. The airmen are enjoying a good run in the league, having collected 10 out of a possible 12 points last month.
“We are coming from a bad result, but our focus is now on the next game against Chapungu. Like I always say, every match for Dynamos is like a Cup final; this match is no different,” Dynamos coach Lloyd Mutasa said.
“It’s important that we bounce back because we are still in the race for the championship, so we need all the three points. The lads have shown me that they want to fight to the end and judging by their attitude this week, I believe we will get a positive result.” Dynamos and Chapungu have already met twice this season after a freak goal post accident which led to a premature end to the match at Ascot in May and had to be concluded in September.
The Harare giants have collected nine points from a possible 21 in their last seven scriptures and failure to collect maximum points would be a major dent to their title aspirations.
